Southern Moderate African American Issues

Obama, Bush and Selective Amnesia

So some Republicans are busy tossing former President George W. Bush under the bus because everything that “could have been done better” was solely his fault; he acted alone.To me this slighting is wrong because the decent, bipartisan governor of the nation-like state of Texas got caught up with the money-power crowd inside the D.C. Beltway and policy when off track.Bush learned that the people who give you campaign cash so appear with a policy wish list; I am relieved that Obama got his contributions from regular folks.Right.

Conspiracy theorists speculate that the military-industrial complex wanted conflict in the Middle East so they could profit from supplying the Department of Defense.President Bush listened to Vice-President Cheney too much.What’s up with nation building when America’s infrastructure is falling apart because our brave troops seem like they work for H.U.D.’s foreign division rather than D.O.D.Let warriors be warriors and we will be better off.General Colin Powell always said use quick and decisive force then get out.Secretary Colin Powell said I am out of here like last year because these guys are flirting with disaster.

I cannot stand around hearing Bush get the scapegoat label from his “selective amnesia” party because they pushed him toward many of those questionable decisions—with approval from Blue Dog Democrats; me included.At the same time, the proposed solutions from the far-left were pricey and ill advised.

In high school in the 80s, we listened to Gill Scott Heron sing or rap about selective amnesia on the song “B-Movie.”Heron and Muhammad Ali are considered the fathers of rap.Okay, I am using selective amnesia to remove Rudy Ray Moore/Dolemite for his rightful status in rap’s foundation because his material offends “uppity” segments of our community but they catch Dolemite on youtube in their McMansions “on a sly note.”

The young people today are concerned with the 50 Cent/Rick Ross conflict; a dispute that grew out of 50’s contention that Ross was once a law enforcement officer.Huh?Is being a corrections officer a negative in certain areas?

Gill Scott Heron made you think with “B-Movie” because he launched into a classic rant/analysis of President Reagan’s election.I will give Heron credit for pointing out that Reagan, as head of the Screen Actors Guild, stood up to McCarthyism when called before the Special Committee on Un-American Activities.Heron wrote, “When other celluloid saviors were cringing in terror from McCarthy, Ron stool tall.”My older brother told me that Reagan’s courage during that time meant he was presidential material despite the rest of political lyrics in the song.

In 1947, as SAG president, Reagan testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee regarding the influence of communists in the motion picture industry. Strongly opposed to communism, he reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles, stating, “As a citizen, I would hesitate to see any political party outlawed on the basis of its political ideology. However, if it is proven that an organization is an agent of foreign power, or in any way not a legitimate political party—and I think the government is capable of proving that—then that is another matter… But at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment.”

My friends and I saw Heron at Blues Alley in D.C. during the 90s and shaking his skeletal hand was rough—First Lady Nancy Reagan was right, “Just say no to drugs.”First lady of my neighborhood was actress Brenda Sykes, Heron’s then wife.Current college political junkies could learn from revisiting Reagan and Heron—always respect a worthy adversary.

How dare Heron in “Winter in America” call the U.S. Constitution a “noble piece of paper but “Angel Dust” scared many youth away from drugs.The “Inner City Blues” line, “Money we make, even before we see it, they take it.” would make any tax reform advocate smile.

As I think about it, I bet the Obamas grew up on Gil Scott Heron during their Afro years also.I can see it the first lady’s eyes because the president has moved forward from the ugliness of the campaign but F.L. Michelle (like me) is thinking unnecessary foolishness won’t be soon forgotten.That sentiment will hit the elements in our community pulling us backwards.Ultimately, she has the president’s ear but doesn’t have selective amnesia.I also think she has a low tolerance for all ignorance.

I loved it. The same logic Heron used to say a mandate or a landslide is not 26% of the registered voters could be used today. After watching five sunday morning news shows, I think the GOP must have dusted off their Gil Scott Heron LPs.